If you are feeling artistic and enjoy the snow and ice you can try your hand at building your own snow sculptures in Sapporo. The snow festival in February held in Sapporo is best known for the ice sculpture competition. It attracts artists from around the world, competing to create the largest and most elaborate artworks from ice and snow.
It is one of Japan's largest winter events in Japan. Teams from outside Japan come to participate, and the festival provides a forum to promote stronger international ties with over 2 million visitors flocking to the event.
The subject of the statues varies. They can often feature famous buildings or a person from the past year. Who knows in 2009 we might even see Barack Obama in snow!
There are also long ice chutes on which people are encouraged to slide. A number of stages made of snow are also constructed, and some events including mucical performances are held.
The number of statues is around 300 in total in every year.
Most of the statues are illuminated in the evening. Sadly, but importantly for safety reasons the snow structures are taken down the day after the festival finishes.
It is one of Japan's largest winter events in Japan. Teams from outside Japan come to participate, and the festival provides a forum to promote stronger international ties with over 2 million visitors flocking to the event.
The subject of the statues varies. They can often feature famous buildings or a person from the past year. Who knows in 2009 we might even see Barack Obama in snow!
There are also long ice chutes on which people are encouraged to slide. A number of stages made of snow are also constructed, and some events including mucical performances are held.
The number of statues is around 300 in total in every year.
Most of the statues are illuminated in the evening. Sadly, but importantly for safety reasons the snow structures are taken down the day after the festival finishes.
